Athletes are a big influence to the youth, from the shoes they wear, their style of playing on the courts, to the clothes they wear. Children follow their every move. Young people are on the courts in Chicago doing the signature “Nike” icon leap to the basket like Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan. They imitate the fast moves of Derrick Rose; point guard of the Chicago Bulls and try to slam dunk like hometown hero Dwayne Wade who plays for the Miami Heat.
Popular basketball camps around Chicago area draw lots of fans when home town celebrities like Miami Heat’s Dwayne Wade come in town to host. Craig Hodges of Chicago Bulls Championship team comes out to share basketball fundamentals at local basketball camps. With these powerful influences athletes can guide boys and girls to eat healthy meals, exercise more and do less sedentary activities like video games and watching TV.
Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics is one professional player who has developed a program in his hometown of Englewood, California influencing children to live healthy and eat right. Roland Martin interviewed him on his show Washington Watch. Pierce’s program is called The Truth on Health. He wants to help fight childhood obesity and motivate children to live a healthy life. (See the interview on attached video)
Steve Nash of The Phoenix Suns shared his advice and lifestyle experience on healthy living in a recent article in Energy Times magazine. He has been professional ball player for 15 years and healthy living is part of the reason why. (See article below on Health tips to maintain stamina and longevity for athletes like Derrick Rose.)
Even boxing celebrity Lalia Ali, daughter of boxing great Muhammad Ali is working to deal with childhood obesity. This is inspiring for young girls, especially in the African-American community where childhood obesity keeps increasing.
If more athletes did the type of work Paul Pierce, Steve Nash and Lalia Ali are doing parents could better guide and motivate their children to live healthy. They would have more great role models to follow. With the increase of childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol our children need this type of guidance. Children love to dance, play sports and have fun and when they learn the benefits of staying active it will encourage them even more to do what they love.
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